by May, W. J.
Cool flesh pressed against his arm. He could feel it through his coat. The events of last night hit him in the gut, knocking him breathless. He jumped away from the booth as if it was on fire and turned to the object of his hatred.
“I know what you’ve done,” he hissed at Nanny.
She stood dazed inside the phone booth, still trying to focus on coming out of the Shadows. Her raincoat was completely buttoned up, her belt tied tight.
Erebus experienced everything Nanny had ever done, every thought and feeling she’d ever had – all of it. For everything he knew about her, she would know the same of him.
Spit sprayed from his mouth. “Get out here. Now you understand why I could never be with you or why I would never come back to you.” He’d never experienced fury like this. It felt as if his emotions were becoming more…human.
She’d never cried before, but now her eyes brimmed and spilled over. He had no sympathy for her, and no time. He needed to get to Aurora.
“What have you done to me? You’ve made me feel,” she sobbed, wiping tears away with the back of her hands.
“It isn’t all about you.” Her hardness had given him some kind of edge. His softness had obviously done something to her as well.
“I’m… I’m sorry,” she said, barely above a whisper.
“I don’t care. You’ll never change. You might feel this way for a few nights, but you’ll go back to your old ways in no time. We both know that. Just forget about me. Don’t ever seek me out again. Do that and I won’t report you to Janus, or even worse, the Night Council. That’s the only thing I offer, and I’m only presenting it once. Get out of here, tonight.” He turned to go. She’d know he spoke the truth. She knew everything about him up until this moment. He wasn’t lying.
“I can help you get the girl.” Her hand came up to grasp his arm and she stepped towards him.
“I don’t need your help now! Get away from me!” He ripped his arm out of her grasp. Without looking back, he walked away. His only focus now was getting Aurora.
Hailing a taxi that just happened to be driving by, he told the driver to take him to the Rum Jungle. He stared blindly out the window. The passing buildings became a blur. It turned grey as his mind brewed over Nan’s memory of last night. He shook his head; her memories were his now. It was like everything she had ever done he had been there with her. It made him want to vomit.
“Driver, can you please hurry?” Erebus closed his eyes and rubbed the sides of his temples with his fingers, unable to stop himself from recreating what she had done to Aurora. He allowed his thoughts to turn into hers so he could trace her actions from last night. It was weird thinking her thoughts but he wanted to know everything Aurora had gone through. He searched Nanny’s memories and let himself pretend to become her.
The minute her Shadow came out last night, Nanny put into action what she’d been planning since figuring out Erebus loved the human – the damn mortal girl. How could he want something so…so fragile? The girl was pretty, but nothing compared to herself. He should’ve just slept with the girl. She might have been alright with that, but the way he’d looked at the little, young thing the first night she’d seen him. She knew right away. It was impossible to miss. Then Erebus had gone and tried to build a life, to pretend to be one of them. That was like trying to rope the wind.
Pathetic. He should be with only her. He belonged to her. They were the same. They were the first in centuries to carry the same Shadow. Now this playmate girl threatened to ruin everything. Her Erebus was too sensitive to be a Shadow. He needed a strong mate to keep him in line. She, Nanny, would remind him of his potential. She was the only one able to do it, well, except maybe one of the Night Council. But truth be told, she considered herself as strong as them and knew one day she’d be one of the women sitting on the judgment thrones. Fully in charge and drop-dead gorgeous. She couldn’t be more perfect for the job.
All this nonsense about Erebus thinking he could be in love with a human, she had to stop it and knew exactly what it would take to make him realize their potential. One night back in her arms—in her bed—would remind him they couldn’t stop destiny.
Nanny flipped Erebus’ phone open. Just before leaving last night, she’d switched cells when she’d noticed his coat on the couch by hers. It had been easy, a little bum-wiggle and the boy was all flustered.
She scrolled through the small list of names on his contacts. Aurora. That was the girl’s name! This was going to be even easier. She tapped her manicured, red painted fingernails against the keys, trying to think of an Erebus text message to send the girl. Where would they meet up? College town, little choice for good places. She giggled when the perfect place popped in her head. She began texting.
Meet me at the Rum Jungle – 20 minutes
The phone vibrated a few moments later.
2 early. Doesn’t open for hrs.
Dumb bitch was smart. The phone vibrated again with a message from Aurora.
I booked my flight. Everything ok?
Flight? So Erebus was going to try and hide her? She’d pull a fast one on him.
Meet me outside Rum J. Surprise 4 U
Yeah, she had a surprise alright. She didn’t have to wait long to find out. The phone vibrated again.
OK. LUV U
Screw pretending to be Erebus. She flipped his phone shut and headed to the downtown bar where she knew the owner. They’d fooled around a few nights back, and the workers were used to the comings and goings of women, many of them hookers, through the back door. The bar’s dirty little secret. No biggie, everyone had dirty secrets if you dug deep enough. The owner of Rum Jungle had quite the reputation. With a bit of coaxing, he’d given her a key to the back door. They’d screwed on the dirty, nasty mattress lying on the floor. The room would do. She just needed a padlock to keep it bolted shut from the outside. If the Night Council could hold court and pass judgment, she would do the same.
Stopping at a hardware store to get a strong combination lock, she paid and threw it into her purse. She speed walked the short distance to the Rum Jungle and leaned against the red brick wall, purposely hiding herself. Tapping her foot, she continuously looked left and right for a sign of the stupid, wimpy human.
Erebus’ girl appeared five minutes later. Nanny stepped directly in front of the girl’s path and groaned when the girl didn’t stop in time and banged into her. It didn’t hurt but was just irritating. She focused on changing her facial expression into a fake friendly one.
“Hello, Aariee.” It took an effort not to roll her eyes, trying instead to pretend she couldn’t remember the girl’s name. “I’m not sure you remember me?”
“It’s Aurora, and yeah, I know who you are.” She crossed her arms over her chest, and a snort of disdain escaped her lips. “What do you want? Nancy, isn’t it?”
“It’s NANNY.” She tried to put the stupid smile on her face again and patted Aurora’s tense arm. “Erebus asked me to meet you out here and escort you in.”
“Erebus?” Disbelief filled the girl’s voice.
Nanny waved a hand in the air. “We sort of made a truce. This is my way of proving to him that it’s over.” Like hell is was.
“Really?” The girl looked honestly surprised. “Wow, I didn’t think he’d ever forgive you.” The fake honey in her voice couldn’t be more transparent.
Nanny felt her eyes narrow as she scowled. “Do you know a secret you’re not supposed to know?”
“Secret? I’d hardly call it that.” Aurora rubbed her hands together against the cold. “He mentioned you two had a relationship. He also didn’t seem too interested in ever being friends with you.”
The human might not know anything. Nanny almost laughed aloud. The stupid girl would find out once they had a private conversation in the basement of the Rum Jungle. A little questioning-the-witness would get the bitch talking. Blinking, Nanny made her face as blank as she could. She faked a giggle. “Hey, I’m doing this, then I’m outta he
re. I’m not into the romantic crap, but I guess Erebus is.” That should help. Let the girl think Erebus had told her about their relationship. It was obvious this girl cared for him, they always did, and he probably thought he was in love her. Blah!
“Whatever. Where is he?”
“I’ll take you to him right now.”
“Fine. Let’s go.” Aurora stepped around Nanny and began walking.
“Not so fast. It’s this way.” She pointed towards the semi-lit alley between the Rum Jungle and the building beside it. “He’s around back.” She held her arm out and waited for Aurora to turn and head down the path. She followed close behind. Only an idiot would go down a dark alley and not sense danger. Could Erebus seriously think he needed this dummy?
They were halfway down the alley when Aurora began talking. She spoke quietly, but Nanny could hear the steel in her voice.
“Just so you know, I’m not an idiot. I know Erebus is not here. I’m only going along with your crap so the two of us can have a polite conversation, without interruption. I really think it would be in your best interest if you headed back to New York or went somewhere else. Erebus has had enough of you. Whatever you’re selling, he’s not interested.”
They came to the end of the alley. Nanny grabbed Aurora’s shoulder and veered her right, towards the back door of the Rum Jungle.
“There’s a room at the back of the bar, down in the basement. We can talk there. I haven’t been around this town long enough to know a better spot.”
“No surprise your place of privacy would be in the basement of a bar. Doesn’t say much for the brain,” Aurora mumbled but Nanny caught every word.
“What did you say?”
“I’m pretty sure you heard me.” Aurora stepped to the side and waited for Nanny to lead the way. “You can go first. I don’t need you pushing me down the steps. I know enough about you not to trust you, but right now I don’t care. We’ll talk and then you can leave this town and especially Erebus alone.”
We’ll see about that. Nanny stopped in front of Aurora and down the stairs. They walked around the men carrying kegs of beer into the back of the bar for the night’s business. Several whistled and jeered at them. Nanny figured it was mostly because of her tight leather pants and voluptuous chest. Men thoroughly enjoyed her sexy body. Shame she had to stand beside the ratty human girl. She gave the men a charming I’ll-see-you-soon smile.
Stale air mixed with a rotten, musty odour hit them from the back of the bar basement. After leading Aurora down the narrow flight of stairs, Nanny pulled the chain to turn on the light at the bottom of the steps. She opened the old cellar door on the right and reached for the old-fashion push button switch. The light flickered and finally stayed on. It was low wattage, but it gave off enough light that they could see each other’s faces.
“Nice place you got here.” Aurora scoffed. She pointed to the stained mattress on the floor and used her hand to sweep the room.
“Have a seat.” Nanny pointed to the steel table with the two 1970s bar stools beside it.
Aurora walked over to the table, crossed her hands behind her back, and turned. “I’ll stand.”
“Whatever.”
“Get to your point, Nanny. I don’t feel like looking at your slimy face any longer than I have to.” Aurora rolled her eyes. “Say what you have to say. I’ll tell you what I think and then get away from Erebus.”
“Don’t be rude,” Nanny tutted. “I want to know what you think you’re doing with my Erebus. And what you know about our kind.”
“Your kind?” Aurora laughed, though it sounded kind of forced. “You some kind of special person?” She shook her head. “Impossible. Maybe royalty? Wait! I know it. You’re a vampire, right?” A sound of forced air escaped her lips. “Whatever vampire you think you are, I don’t care. I hate to disappoint you, but I know Erebus isn’t. We’ve had a few rolls in the hay.” She pointed to the mattress on the ground. “Though I must admit, it’s been in a lot better places than this pit. Anyway, he doesn’t bite.” She grinned and leaned back to rest her butt against the table.
“Vampire?” Nanny spat the word out. “You little cu—”
“No need to be rude.”
Nanny clenched her fists, trying to control the urge to wipe the smug look off the little girl’s face. “You have no idea what I am, or what I’m capable of. You have all of tomorrow to think about it. I’m not a gentle person. I don’t have sincerity, sympathy, or a conscience. I’m extremely proficient in wheedling out what I want to know and making people suffer.”
“Like you’ve done to Erebus.”
That hit a nerve. She slapped Aurora hard across the face. “I’ve never done anything malicious or hurtful to him. We belong together. You have no clue, nor would your little mind be able wrap itself around it.”
Aurora kept her hands at her sides, her left cheek burning a bright red. Nanny had to give her a tiny bit of credit; the girl had a backbone.
“I will have him,” Nanny enunciated each word. “I don’t share. He’ll realize his rightful place after one moment in my arms –”
“You mean, between your legs.” Aurora smirked. “It seems he’s not interested in that, either.”
“Shut up!” Nanny shouted and punched Aurora hard in the stomach. The girl instantly bent and hugged her stomach, she began gasping awkward, painful-sounding breaths. Nanny reached over and pushed the back of Aurora’s head down and wouldn’t let her straighten up. She thought of how one of the ladies on the Night Council would react and she let go of Aurora’s head, but not before pulling hard on the girl’s hair. She hissed, “I’ll break that spirit of yours, before I’m through, and take great pleasure in the process. You’re no match, and I have years of experience at this particular thing.” She moved with lightning speed to the door and checked her wrist. “By the time I’m through, you won’t even have the memories. You stupid girl.” She quickly stepped into the hall and slammed the door as she heard Aurora come stumbling towards it. She leaned her full weight against it and pulled the padlock out of her purse. She could hear Aurora’s muffled yelling and pounding on the door. It was faint enough. No one would hear her when the bar was busy tonight.
The lock clicked shut, and Nanny straightened her short jacket. She grabbed her red lipstick out of her purse and applied it before heading back up the stairs. She giggled in anticipation of the things she planned to do to Aurora tomorrow evening. It was going to be fun breaking that girl’s spirit. Nanny was up for the job. She enjoyed a tough challenge.
Stepping outside, she winked at a dark-haired bodyguard carrying a keg on his shoulder. She put an exaggerated wiggle in her hips as she rounded the corner to the alley. Her thoughts turned to Erebus, and she smiled. After spending tonight in bed together, he might even want to watch her do her magic on Aurora.
*****
Erebus shuddered as reality came back in the form of the taxi cab driver telling him they were at the Rum Jungle. He tossed a fifty at the driver and tore down the alley to the back of the building. Paying no attention to the shouts from the bartenders or bouncers, he ran inside and down the steps. He twirled in the lock combination he recited from Nanny’s memory and pulled. It easily clicked open. He grasped the handle to swing the door open.
Relief pulsed through his veins when he saw Aurora sitting on a bar stool in the far corner of the room. Her hair poked out in matted directions, her clothes were dirty and her hands were filthy, like she’d been trying to claw her way out. She had a long scratch and nasty looking bruise starting to turn purple on the side her face.
He tried to ignore the murderous look on her face. It was enough to stop him from running over and taking her in his arms. She looked madder than Nanny ever had.
“Want to get out of here?” He stood frozen by the door.
She said nothing. She just got off the stool, grabbed her coat, and stomped past him. Head down, he simply followed.
Chapter 9
Breaking
<
br /> Silent, Erebus unlocked the door to his apartment, letting Aurora enter first. She stormed past him, smashing her hand against the switch to flick the lights on and kicking her shoes off to slam against the closet door. She swore when her coat didn’t come off fast enough and whipped it onto the couch’s arm. She threw her purse at her coat but, in her frustration, aimed too high, and it landed with a thud on the floor, behind the couch.
“I assume you stopped Nanny?” Aurora barked.
Erebus nodded, unable to speak and not sure of where to start. He had to say something. “I’m sorry. She didn’t really hurt you, right? Let me get a cool cloth and clean your cut.”
“No, don’t! I’ll do it myself.” She took two steps and spun around. “Forget this,” she muttered to herself. “You know what? I’ve had it.” That was directed right at Erebus. She shook her head, her entire body shaking. “I’ve had plenty of time to think about it the past twenty-four hours. I don’t want to live like this anymore. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. Or what’s going on with you. Is there going to be some other thing coming to hunt you down? Or decide to take me out of the picture?”
“What?” Erebus couldn’t think. He forgot how to move. He recognized, at that very moment, what was about to happen. The door clicking shut behind him echoed his thoughts as he strode into the living room. Deep down, he knew this was inevitable – he just didn’t want it to, not after everything that had happened.
“Aaron, I thought I loved you, but this isn’t a life. I’m not going to live like this.” Her anger melted as the tears began streaming down her face. She mumbled something incoherent.
“I can’t breathe without you,” was all he could manage. What he wanted to was: I don’t want to live without you. You take away the darkness and make me feel alive.
“Aar—Erebus.” Her eyes squeezed shut. Irritated, she shook her head and began pacing the room. “Your life’s an obscurity. You live your hours during the night. I live mine during the day and then spend a few fleeting hours with you in the evening. I refuse to give up who I am or who I want to be. No lawyer pulls a graveyard shift!”
